Joshua I. Helfand, age 57, of South Beloit, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at UW Hospital and Clinics, in Madison, Wisconsin, after a nine-month battle with leukemia. He was born on Feb. 8, 1965, in Rockford, Illinois, the son of Eugene and Ilene (Tobias) Helfand.
Josh was a 1983 graduate of Guilford High School in Illinois. He was united in marriage to Heidi Felio on July 2, 2005. Josh was self-employed and talented in construction. He could build and repair anything.
Josh loved fast cars, racing them at local tracks, including one of his favorites, Road America. He enjoyed following NASCAR and F1 racing and was a semiprofessional poker player. Josh and Kai enjoyed the simple things and being together. One of their favorite past-times was playing video games together-especially Mario Kart, in Kai's younger years. Josh, Heidi, Kai and Grandpa Helfand were able to winter in Florida and loved spending time on the beach, collecting shells. Josh and Heidi loved going to the racetrack and attending comedy shows together.
Josh is survived by his wife, Heidi; their child, Kai; mother-in-law, Sherrie (Carey) Hensel; brother-in-law, Lee (Missy) Felio; sister-in-law, Katie (Drew Smith) Felio; and his very special fur friends, Goonie, Ronald and Mimi. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Ilene; and father-in-law, Kurt Felio.
A Celebration of Life will be held at BLACKHAWK FARMS RACEWAY, 15538 Prairie Road, South Beloit, Illinois, from 12:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022.
Memorials may be made to the family for Kai’s college fund. If you are unable to attend and would like to send a card to Josh’s family, please send it to Gunderson Stoughton Funeral & Cremation Care, P.O. Box 96, Stoughton, WI 53589.
A special thank you to Dr. Nadiminti and all the nurses on the B6-6 Unit at UW Hospital for their excellent care. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Highway 51 N. @ Jackson St.
(608) 873-4590
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